Classic bike/cafe racer - why do I want one?

[Tim in Belgium]

After seeing a (old)V-reg Ducati 900SS last night I'm in love with long, slim clip on classics and need one in my life.

So any suggestions? after briefly scouting the internet I think the late '70s ducatis are too expensive. My other thoughts are a guzzi of some sort. With or without a bikini fairing I'm not too bothered. Are there any other bikes from the '60s/'70s and early '80s that might interest me? Suggestions on a postcard or below. It doesn't have to be the purist version in the world, just something with that cafe racer vibe, so oddball suggestions welcome.

Problem is I think I'm getting old before my time :)


PS I still want a Triumph Daytona 675 so all hope is not lost, yet.

[Demonz]

I'd buy into the Triumph or more so the Norton brand as classics - but know bugger all about both of them....

[dizzyblonde]

buy yourself an SRX600. Big single cylinder cafe stylee. A real comedy bike, loads of fun. Light, slim and from the 80's. If its oddball you want then that will fit the bill. Im indoors taught me to ride a bike on one of his. Then he bought me one, shame i needed to jump off the top board at the swimming pool to kickstart it!!!! Some come with electric start and those in real good nick attract nice prices. They're a bit cult

[timwilky]

After seeing a (old)V-reg Ducati 900SS last night I'm in love with long, slim clip on classics and need one in my life.

So any suggestions? after briefly scouting the internet I think the late '70s ducatis are too expensive. My other thoughts are a guzzi of some sort. With or without a bikini fairing I'm not too bothered. Are there any other bikes from the '60s/'70s and early '80s that might interest me? Suggestions on a postcard or below. It doesn't have to be the purist version in the world, just something with that cafe racer vibe, so oddball suggestions welcome.

Problem is I think I'm getting old before my time :)


PS I still want a Triumph Daytona 675 so all hope is not lost, yet.

Tim, this was the beast that brought my bro back to 2 wheels. Whilst he got his 900ss with less than 2000 on the clock, it was still an emulsion manufacturing plant. Despite dipping his toes in the gixer and blade camps for some reason he still feels the call of Italian bags of spanners.

You must have heard them at the bridge. They tell you 3000 miles in advance something expensive is going to happen. I had a mate in the late 70s lay down a Dama and take it back to the shop it don't handle right. too bloody true the frame was twisted.

Yes the duc's look nice, but they really are big bags of trouble. Unless you have very deep pockets, stay clear.

[Tim in Belgium]

Tim, this was the beast that brought my bro back to 2 wheels. Whilst he got his 900ss with less than 2000 on the clock, it was still an emulsion manufacturing plant. Despite dipping his toes in the gixer and blade camps for some reason he still feels the call of Italian bags of spanners.

You must have heard them at the bridge. They tell you 3000 miles in advance something expensive is going to happen. I had a mate in the late 70s lay down a Dama and take it back to the shop it don't handle right. too bloody true the frame was twisted.

Yes the duc's look nice, but they really are big bags of trouble. Unless you have very deep pockets, stay clear.

I've realised that the bevel drive Ducatis are not for me at this stage in life/finance, but would love something similar to sit alongside a modern machine in my garage.....

[Razor]

Triumph Thruxton.

[rictus01]

Triumph Thruxton.

indeed, or perhaps something like this ?

http://www.brmc.co.uk/reelectraclubmanfrt.jpg

Cheers Mark.

[Tim in Belgium]

Mark, what's that?

Is it a twin?

Loving the bars, tank and seat.

[padmane]

What about a Royal Enfield? They do a cool cafe racer.:p

[Sid Squid]

Classic bike/cafe racer - why do I want one?'Cos they're exceedingly cool that's why, seems you getting some taste in your advancing years.What do I want?I don't know.

The bike in Mark's pic is a Enfield. Much fun, very slow, newer ones now pretty well made.

See here. (http://www.royal-enfield.com/)

[petevtwin650]

One of these you mean?

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i184/petevtwin650/Ducati900ss.jpg

I was lucky enough to have one of these new. W Reg. £2500 from Elite Motors Tooting. Same colour as brochure. Silver with the gold wheels and Silentium Exhausts :confused:

Was nearly the fastest thing on two wheels back then. Had to sell it after I got banned doing 110 on the A3. Only had 1500 miles on the clock.:smt089

[Tim in Belgium]

Yep, it was one of those, but in black & gold, thy're so slim in the flesh.

Bought classic bike yesterday, the beginning of the end I think...

[chazzyb]

Yep, it was one of those, but in black & gold, thy're so slim in the flesh.

Black and gold? Sure it wasn't a Darmah? I've not seen a black 900ss, but the Darmah was often those colours, but didn't have the fairing.

I may be wrong, but I believe the non-desmo bevel engines were a little less harsh on the pocket. Maybe.

Bought classic bike yesterday, the beginning of the end I think...

Good man. Take a look at Real Classic too. Trouble is, it's subscription only, although they do 'trial' packs. See www.realclassic.co.uk (http://www.realclassic.co.uk).

[Tim in Belgium]

Nope, it was the faired 900 SS in black and gold.

Thanks for the further reading tips.

[rictus01]

Yeah Tim that's the current clubman cafe' racer Enfield, I'd also like a 500-T (the trials version) just about as authentic as you can get, but although great fun, not the fastest thing out there.

My personel choice for the retro look (obviously excluding what I currently have) thing would be one of these

http://www.motorbikes.be/motorbike/5101/full.jpg

http://photos.motorcycle-usa.com/Oh-My.jpg

Norton info (http://www.motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/2005_Bikes/norton_952_commando.html).

Cheers Mark.

[Pedrosa]

Wow how nice are those Nortons? For what you have in mind Tim it can only be either British or Italian metal. Nothing else comes close.;)

(Unless you can find a 250cc Honda 6 that has been made road legal? Oooh the music!)

[Lozzo]

buy yourself an SRX600. Big single cylinder cafe stylee. A real comedy bike, loads of fun. Light, slim and from the 80's. If its oddball you want then that will fit the bill. Im indoors taught me to ride a bike on one of his. Then he bought me one, shame i needed to jump off the top board at the swimming pool to kickstart it!!!! Some come with electric start and those in real good nick attract nice prices. They're a bit cult

One of my mates has one, it's a scream of a bike to ride o twisty back roads. Italian handling with Japanese mechanicals...unfortunately it has Italian build quality and electrics.

EDIT: No he hasn't, he has a later SZR660. The SRX was a fun bike too though, and better built than the SZR.

[Lozzo]

'Cos they're exceedingly cool that's why, seems you getting some taste in your advancing years.I don't know.

The bike in Mark's pic is a Enfield. Much fun, very slow, newer ones now pretty well made.

See here. (http://www.royal-enfield.com/)

Someone I know is selling an Enfield with all the Cafe racer kit, it's done 25 miles on a rebuilt engine. He's had it from new and is clearing out all his old bikes - mostly oddball stuff like a Z1300 Voyager and a gold 50th anniversary Pan Euro - because he just bought a GTR1400 Kawasaki. He's a touch ecccentric, but a fantastic engineer and his bikes are quite well maintained.

Want more details?

[chazzyb]

Yeah Tim that's the current clubman cafe' racer Enfield, I'd also like a 500-T (the trials version) just about as authentic as you can get, but although great fun, not the fastest thing out there.

My personel choice for the retro look (obviously excluding what I currently have) thing would be one of these

http://www.motorbikes.be/motorbike/5101/full.jpg

http://photos.motorcycle-usa.com/Oh-My.jpg

Norton info (http://www.motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/2005_Bikes/norton_952_commando.html).

Cheers Mark.

Sadly, the *American* outfit (Kenny Dreer?) developing this, went tits-up some little while ago.

[Tim in Belgium]

Someone I know is selling an Enfield with all the Cafe racer kit, it's done 25 miles on a rebuilt engine. He's had it from new and is clearing out all his old bikes - mostly oddball stuff like a Z1300 Voyager and a gold 50th anniversary Pan Euro - because he just bought a GTR1400 Kawasaki. He's a touch ecccentric, but a fantastic engineer and his bikes are quite well maintained.

Want more details?

No, still dreaming/doing my research, any funds I've got are going on a euro/ring trip and trackdays for the rest of this year, but thanks all the same.

[rob13]

Those Nortons look amazing, even i'm drooling at their lines! The bars dont look quite right for the style of bike though. As nice as they are, I can imagine that theyre only good for very short runs as they must kill your back when the clip ons are that low.

[Ceri JC]

You want one because a naked bike with clip-ons is the most entertaining (if not the most practical/fastest) riding position. Seriously, after riding my sv650s with the fairing off, I have hankered for one.